State powers in thick of races

The conference races are tighter, the pregame speeches louder, the crowds livelier and the hands of wide receivers sweatier with every crucial play.

Only November can offer such college football theatrics, and state teams are playing their part in the insanity.

For Florida, the national title is still within reach despite a loss to Ole Miss.

If the Gators (7-1, 5-1 SEC) win the conference as a one-loss team, Penn State or Texas Tech might have trouble staying ahead in the Bowl Championship Series standings.

Resurgence has fueled Florida State after a 7-6 finish in both 2006 and 2007. Take away last week's 31-28 loss to Georgia Tech on a last-minute fumble and the Seminoles probably lead the ACC's Atlantic Division by a half-game.

Now the Seminoles (6-2, 3-2 ACC) look to knock off division leader Maryland. Miami (6-3, 3-2) has won four in a row since that 41-39 loss to FSU and is contending in the congested Coastal Division race.

Here's a breakdown of each conference and the likely division winners.

INFORMATIONAL BOX:

ACC

FSU has real shot at title

ATLANTIC: With just one loss in the division, Maryland is in control - for now. The Terps play Virginia Tech on the road Thursday, and both Florida State and Wake Forest - each 3-2 - are just a half-game behind Maryland.

COASTAL: It's anybody's game. Georgia Tech is in first with a 4-2 record but five of the division's six teams have two league losses. The Yellow Jackets still have difficult games remaining against North Carolina and Miami. Don't count out Miami and Virginia Tech.

WORK TO DO: FSU (6-2, 3-2) still needs one more win to become bowl-eligible, because two of FSU's wins were against Football Championship Subdivision opponents. Wake Forest (5-3, 3-2), Boston College (5-3, 2-3) and Virginia Tech (5-3, 2-2) are all in a good spot to become bowl-eligible. So too is Virginia (5-4, 3-2).

WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR: While N.C. State (2-6, 0-4) is mathematically alive for a bowl, it's unlikely the Wolfpack will win the rest of its conference games.

EAST: Fresh off a 49-10 win over Georgia, Florida (5-1 in conference) can clinch with a win Saturday at Vanderbilt. Vandy (3-2) and Georgia (4-2) still have life with a Florida loss to the Commodores, but after entering the season with high expectations of reaching Atlanta, Georgia probably must settle for a second-tier bowl game at this point.

WEST: It's only a two-team race if LSU (3-2) somehow knocks off undefeated Alabama (5-0) on Saturday. Otherwise, 'Bama goes to its first conference title game since 1999, when it defeated Florida 34-7.

WORK TO DO: Vanderbilt (5-3), Ole Miss (5-4) should do the necessary legwork to get six or more wins. Auburn (4-5) and Arkansas (4-5) have uphill climbs, while Mississippi State (3-6) and Tennessee (3-6) are long shots.

WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR: Nobody yet, though MSU, Tennessee, Arkansas and Auburn could be destined for an early offseason.

YOUR CHAMP IS: Florida. After running through its last four SEC opponents 201-43, nobody's hot enough to beat Florida.

Jeremy Fowler

INFORMATIONAL BOX:

SUN BELT

Uphill climb for FAU, FIU

Louisiana-Lafayette (4-0) is in control but faces a big game Nov. 22 at Troy (4-1) that should decide the conference title. Arkansas State (2-1) still has a chance, but lost to ULL and would need help. Florida International (2-2) and Florida Atlantic (1-2) are not mathematically eliminated, but they would need a lot of help to gain a share of the title.

WHO'S BOWLING: Nobody yet, as Troy (5-3) and ULL (5-3) are a win away. Arkansas State (4-4) will need to win two of its final four. The only sure tie-in for the conference is the New Orleans Bowl for the winner, though there are new deals with St. Petersburg, PapaJohns.com and Independence bowls in case the conferences with tie-ins to those bowls don't have enough bowl-eligible teams to fill the slots.

WORK TO DO: FIU (3-5) and FAU (3-5) will have to win out to have a legitimate chance for a bid.

WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR: Only North Texas (1-8) has been officially eliminated, but Middle Tennessee (2-6) and Louisiana-Monroe (3-6) won't be going anywhere even if they win out.

YOUR CHAMP IS: Louisiana-Lafayette. The Ragin' Cajuns have a running game that no conference opponent has yet been able to stop.